Paraffin gopher



May 26, 1931.

R. c. MQCARTER PARAFFIN GOPHER Filed Oct. 16. 193

Invenlor A llorny Patented May 26, 1931 NT; omee ROLEY o. MCCARTER, or nrsiive swan, TEXAS PAR'AFEIN' GOPHER Application filed October 16, 1930. Serial No. 489,195.

This invention relates to a device for use particularly in oil producing regions and has for one of is objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a tool adapted to be low- 6 ered into an oil well casing for the purpose of removing paraffin, etc. from the interior of the well casing. V

, Another important object of the invention is to provide a tool of the aforementioned 1 character embodying a plurality of longitudinally extending runners or guides for preventing the tool from becoming caught on the joints of the casing when the tool is in use.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a paraifin gopher of the character described embodying a pair of pivotally mounted scrapers for operative engagement with the casing for cleaning said casing only when the tool is moved upwardly, said scrap ers being free to swing upwardly to inoperative position when the .tool is being lowered in the casing.

Another object of the invention is to promg means for permitting the escape of fluid from the upper side of the tool to the lower side of the said tool when the'same is being raised in the casing thereby rendering it unnecessary tolift the fluid which'may be disposed ubove the tool when raising said tool in the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character set forth embodying means whereby escape of any gas which may be below the tool is permitted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a paraffin gopher of the character set forth which will be simple in construction,

which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects'and advantages of the invention may become apparent from a study of the'following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several ..views, and wherein:- 1 n Figure l is a view principally in elevation with parts-broken away in section of a tool vide a tool of the character set forth embody? strong-durable, eflicient in operation and constructed in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking downwardly in the direction indi- .Cated by the arrows. a 1 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of *Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,-

Figure 4 is a detailviewin elevation of I the perforated coupling whereby the supporting rod or cable is coupled to the tool.

Figure 5 is a detail View in perspective of a lower end piece which is adapted to be mounted on the tool whenthe well contains gas which it is necessaryor desirable topermit to escape upwardly past the tool.. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral '1 desig nates an elongated tube having internally threaded opposite end portionsand an en-, larged intermediate portion 3 of polygonal cross section. as best seenin Figure2 of the drawings. Pairs of longitudinally extending runners or guides 4 and 5 are mounted on the tube 1, said guides or runners having inwardly curved end portions whichare anchored to the tube 1 above and below the enlargement 3 by any suitable means, such as welding or soldering. Thegpuides or runners comprising each pair are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the tube 1, Adjacentthe enlargement 3, the guides or runners i are provided with notchesor recesses in their inner edges for'providing the horizontally disposed shoulders 6. A shaft TeX; tends transversely through the enlargement 3 of'the tube 1 and has its opposite end portions disposed for support in the eyes 8 provided inintermediate portions of the guides or runners 5. The rod 7 is provided with a tapered slotted head 10 which'is countersunk in oneof the eyes 8 and isfurther. provided with a reduced threaded end portion 9 which is threaded into the other of the eyes 8, the reduced end portionproviding ashoulder for abutting the said other eye 8,,as clearly seen in Figure 2' of the drawings. A pair of substantially semi-circular'scrapers 11 are hinga y mum-ed fo s g n m me t re. e

vertical plane on the shaft 7 on opposite sides of the enlargement 3 and are engageable for rest on the shoulders 6 in a manner reception of the enlargement 3on the tube 1.

The periphery of each of the scrapers 11 is disposed substantially concentrically with the outer edges of the runners or guides 4 and and are provided with the notches 12 for the receptionof the runners or guides 4. The scrapers-11 are also recessed as at'13' for the reception of the eyes 8.

pipe section 14- is threaded into the lower end portion of the tube 1 and is pro videdwithapertured transverse-bar 15 in its lower end portion through whicha rod 16 slidably extends. to its'lower end the depending, pointed nose 17 adaptedfor engagement with the lower end of the pipe section 14 in a manner toclose said lowerend and form a check valve therefor. A'washer 18 is fixed on theupper end portion of the rod 16 and a coil spring 19 encircles the rod 16"and has its lower end engaged on the bar15 and its upper end engagedwith the washer. 18 for yieldinglyurging the rod 16upwardly and seating'the nose 17; againstthe lower end of the pipe section A coupling 20 is threaded into the upper end portion of the tube and constitutes means for connecting theperforat'ed' pipe section 21 to the tube 1. The perforations in the pipesection 21 are designated by the reference numeral 22 andjany desired numshown) ber of same maybe provided. The upper end of the perforated tube 21 is closedby a plug 23 which is anchored therein in any suitable manner and has a threaded upper end portion 24 for engagement with the operating rodor cablewhi'ch supports the tool (not The plug "23. is further provided with a flange 25 adjacent the threaded portion 24 for abutting engagement with the operating rod' or cable.

In, use, the tool is lowered into the well casing and as the same travels downwardly no scraping action will take place dueto the fact that thescrapers are free to swing'upwardly. However, when the tool is lifted in the well casing, the scrapers 11 engage on the shoulders G and are supported thereonand the periphery edges of the-scrapers will'thus travel closely adjacent the wall of the well casing to efiectively remove the paratfin therefrom.v The runnersfor guides 4 and- 5 bridge or vrlde over the joints: between the sections ofthe well (casing and thus prevent the scrapers 11 from catching in said'j oint's.

Theco'lumn of fluidwhich may be above the tool in the well will; when theto'ol is drawn The rod 16 has connected 'permit't'o escape from below the tool, the pipe section 14 is removed from the lower end of the tube 1 and the pipe section 26 (see Figure 5). is substituted; therefor. The pipe section 26 is provided with a tapered lower end portion 27- whi'ch isopenat all times for the passage of gas from the welllupwardly through the tube 1 through the coupling 20'into the upper pipe-section 21 and out into the well again above the toolthrough the-perforations It is believed that the many'advantagesof a tool constructedinaccordance with thisinvention will be readily understood, and al; though the preferred embodiment of theinvention is as illustrated and described,.'it is to be understood that changesin details of constructionmay be hadwhich:willfall.with in the scope of the inventionasclaimed;

What isclaimed is 1. A. tool of the characterdescribed com:- prising an elongated tube, guiderunners mounted longitudinally 'on the tube and having: intermediate portions disposed in spaced parallelism to the tube, and a pair of scrapers hingedlymounted for swinging-'1 movement on the tube within the guidesrunners and having their scraping edges dlSPOSGdi'Sllbstantially concentrically with theouteredges of the-guide runners. I 52. A- tool of the character described comprising anelongated tube,, guide runners mounted longitudinally: on; thetube and having intermediate portions disposed'in spaced parallelismto ithe tube, anda pairof scrapers hingedly mounted for swinging movement on the tubev within the guiderunners and having their scraping edges disposed substantially. concentrically with the outer edges of the guide runners, the scrapers being further adapted'for engagement with certain of the guide runners for limiting the-swinging movement of thescrapersin one direction to a position substantially at right angles to-the tube; V

3. A tool of the character describedcomprising an elongated tube, guide, runners 'mountedilongitudinally on the tube; and'having'inwardly curved end portions-rigidlysecured to} the tube, theintermediate portions of the guide runners being. disposed substantially .inspaced: parallelism to the tube; 0.61.- tain of the guide runners being provided with shoulders:ontheirintermediateportions, and a pain of? scrapers'ihingedly mountejdr tor swinging movement on the tube within the guide runners and having notches in their scraping edges for the reception of the guide runners, said scrapers engageable for rest on the shoulders for supporting said scrapers against swinging movement in one direction in a position substantially at right angles to the tube. I

4. A tool of the character described comprising an elongated tube, guide runners mounted in spaced parallelism on the tube and having inwardly curved end portions rigidly secured to the tube, certain of the guide runners being provided with notches on their inner sides providing horizontally disposed shoulders on intermediate portions of said certain guide runners, horizontally aligned eyes on intermediate portions of'the other guide runners in the horizontal plane of the shoulders, a shaft extending transversely through the tube and having its end portions engaged in the eyes, a pair of substantially semi-circular scrapers hingedly mounted on the shaft for swinging movement in a vertical plane on opposite sides of the tube and within the guide runners, the scraping edges of said scrapers having recesses therein for the reception of the guide runners, said scrapers further having their scrap ing edges disposed substantially concentrically with the outer edges of the guide runners, the scrapers being further adapted for engagement for rest on the shoulders for limiting the swinging movement of the scrapers in one direction and in a position substantially at right angles to the tube.

5. A tool of the character described comprising an elongated tube, adapted for vertical movement in a well casing, guide runners mounted longitudinally on the tube, scrapers hingedly mounted for swinging movement on an intermediate portion of the tube within the guide runners, and engageable with the guide runners for limiting the swinging movement of the scrapers in one direction in a position substantially at right angles to the tube, a pipe section connected to the lower end of the tube and depending therefrom a check valve supported for vertical reciprocation on the pipe section and engageable with the lower end thereof in a manner to control the passage therethrough, spring means operatively connected with the check valve for yieldingly retaining the same in closed position, a perforated pipe section coupled to the upper end of the tube, and means on the perforated pipe section for coupling an operating rod thereto.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROLEY C. MGOARTER. 

